Monday, April 11, 2011

Opportunity offers options...

Not that many options weren't available before, they just weren't taken**. Up to now Silent Stan has lived up to that name leaving everything to the manager and chief executive to get on with running the club in the way they saw fit. Now U.S. billionaire Stan Kroenke has increased substancially his share of Arsenal Football Club triggering a bid for the club (The takeover laws state that a shareholder must launch a formal bid once his share is more than 29.99%) "...will Kroenke's deeper pockets now lead to a rethink, especially if Arsenal end the season potless again?"

A few important points: 1. Arsenal Supporters' Trust have said that Stan Kroenke has a good relationship with them and recently supported the fanshare scheme: "it is really important that supporters remain involved in Arsenal's ownership structure." 2. The offer will not be funded by way of any debt finance and 3. Arsene says that SK "understands the club's heritage and traditions and our ambition to run the club in a way which protects our long-term future". [Int. Business Times]

What about short term trophy cabinet filling?...we shall see. A couple of old hands wouldn't go amiss to steer the young guns. Is Tony Adams fit?

**"The fact is that Wenger chooses not to spend the money he has at his disposal, preferring to develop young talent than to follow the spend or bust approach of Chelsea and Manchester City."

Please note: I like to keep Owsblog front page reasonably 'short'; for many more years worth of Owsblog posts please use (i) the archives drop-down box in the side bar or, or (ii) for more recent just click on the 'older posts' link under the bottom blog-post. Thanks.